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Covid for 4 weeks & still bed ridden. Anyone else had prolonged severe illness without hospitalization

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Res35
Res35

Hi,

I've had Covid19 for 4 weeks and if I had the energy I'd be tearing my hair out.

I've had 2 sets of prohylactic antibiotics to safeguard against bacterial infections, my temperature has been up and down but never higher than 38 the entire illness.

I've had severe neuropathy during the illness and some kind of night seizures accompanying the other more well publicised symptoms that mean my sleep is terrible also.

I went to hospital Day 14 after a week of seriously thinking I'm on death's door and my blood oxygen was good enough to be sent home for follow up at the Covid Hubs where they basically just take temperature, pulse and oxygen levels.

I was prescribed a 2nd course of antibiotics there as my temperature was still up and they are checking in on me every few days.

Meanwhile I am having one better day, then another terrible day, then a better day then a worse day..But 'better' is still bed ridden, just means I can breath well enough and not too dizzy to make myself my own cup of tea, have a shower and engage in some small talk with my family.

Everytime I have a good few hours I think, that must be me getting well now, but no, 4 weeks later and the last 24 hrs my breathlessness has been worse than it was for the previous 5 days..Am about ready to shoot myself.

Is there anyone else that's experienced being so ill with this virus outside of an ICU setting where it's carried on this long?

Even ICU patients are recovering in 3-6weeks .

Cannot understand why I'm not getting well yet.

I have no underlying health issues and I'm in my 30s.

I don't know if I still have Covid or if this is post viral inflammation and fatigue..There is no way of knowing as they are not testing community cases. Every doctor just says it's definitely Covid but I have no idea if I've passed the peak of the illness or if i should still be worried it could get worse.

Just feel it's going on forever.

Be great to know if there's any non hospital stories of people being sick, as in still unable to do a thing this length of time.

Thanks!

19 likes, 5383 replies

5383 Replies

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  • mkqq
    mkqq Res35

    Edited

    A couple more questions.

    1 - How is your appetite? Throughout the last 2.5 months the only thing I'm still happy about is my appetite. I'm still eating like a pig. I guess that's also because eating is something I've always enjoyed.

    2 - For people who are not necessarily short of breath, how is your breathing? I just feel my breathing is really unnatural these days. In the sense that I pay attention to every breath, i.e. it's not automatically anymore. At night lying in bed I cannot relax anymore, it feels like I'm taking every breath manually. Do you feel the same?

    • susan48029
      susan48029 mkqq

      Edited

      It really sounds like your all anxious and panic could your GPS no prescribe a mild sedative and sleep tablets to get pass this

    • mkqq
      mkqq susan48029

      Edited

      True. My stress and anxiety is through the roof right now. Some days I spend the whole day worrying and my physical symptoms become worse, and at night I've already accepted that I cannot sleep well before I even try to sleep.

    • Lulu2020
      Lulu2020 mkqq

      Edited

      I think it is the stress of having been breathless I am now aware of EVERYTHING - every time I swallow does it feel ok, every time I breathe does it feel ok, every time I cough does it feel ok and if I am going to have a melt down mentally it is always just before bed - I literally fell apart last night convinced I wasn't going to be able to breathe as I had phlegm on chest and then convinced it is Pneumonia - it is just so wearing and my partner is just losing patience with me although he is trying to be sympathetic but no-one other than people here understands the fear and the tiredness from it all. I spent 3/4 weeks in spare room but as I had improved moved back into main bedroom then last night kept wanting to clear throat and worried keeping partner awake - it's just gone on for so long it makes you so tired and weary. I literally used to bowl through life and have never been a worrier or anxious. In summary I think a lot of the sleeplessness is anxiety and being super sensitive about everything going on in body.

      If all my symptoms feel settled when I go to bed I sleep well, if there is anything bothering me like cough, breathlessness before sleeping I cannot cope at night.

      Take care everyone, onwards and upwards, it's the only way x

  • susan48029
    susan48029 Res35

    Edited

    I'm in my 9th week my gp rung today to see how I am and how anxious and panic I'm still feeling with my breathing. I'm going out for a short daily walk now with helps the breathing. He did say that it's taking upto 12 weeks to feel better and that we are all like this because it's been going on so long. I am on a sleeping tab and 2mg diazepam if I need and on sterraline been on that for 12 days and it's starting to help me be more confident and not worry so much and also I talk to mind. It helps me, hope u all feel better today ❤️

    • Lulu2020
      Lulu2020 susan48029

      Edited

      Very good that your GP calls you Susan and I know if you have had Pneumonia or any serious illness they say can take 12 weeks or more to recover. I think just someone telling you that is reassuring. I am left to my own devices with GP no follow up calls but I am London suburbs so probably just too busy but does make you feel you are very much on own.

      Glad the meds are helping you - the anxiety is just to wearing but its hard to know how to stop it - I can stop it temporarily until I feel a symptom recurring etc.

      All the best, wishing you much better soon x

    • susan48029
      susan48029 Lulu2020

      Edited

      I had a clear xray and Dr paramedics checked my chest and clear but the breathing and cough go on along time Dr's r getting it and they in same boat. Really wish you would all get some medication as it is helping, 💕

    • Lulu2020
      Lulu2020 susan48029

      Edited

      So glad xray clear really hoping mine will be too. Here's to a calm evening everyone x

    • Rufio222
      Rufio222 susan48029

      Edited

      Hey Susan,

      Greetings from the USA! I'm glad to hear your xray went well. I also had a clear xray and electrocardiogram a few weeks ago showing my lungs and heart are healthy, however I still feel this nagging chest pain on my left side, unlike anything else I have ever experienced before this plague. It has been about 9 weeks since I first felt the pain. I went through some misery with fatigue around weeks 4 and 5. That fatigue has eased, but the chest pain and lightheadedness remain, especially when I get brave and try to walk around the block.

      Another person with the virus also turned me to a spirometer, which is a plastic contraption breathing exercise that is supposed to ease the chest pain. It has helped. Maybe you can ask your doctor or order one online.

      Reading everyone's posts here has been very helpful in that I know I am not alone. Unfortunately, we are not the lucky ones who tested positive but remained asymptomatic, but I know that we will all come out of this a little wiser and more grateful for the things we have. I hope everyone makes a full recovery, and soon!

    • jim90098
      jim90098 Lulu2020

      Edited

      lulu,

      Im sure your xray will be clear too.

      Have a good night.

    • Lulu2020
      Lulu2020 jim90098

      Edited

      Thanks Jim, appreciate your support. Everyone on here has been so kind x

    • susan48029
      susan48029 Rufio222

      Edited

      Hi ruffio

      I will look into that, I have a oximeter that checks lungs and pulse, I have managed to go out walking but I do get puffy with it, by late afternoon I'm knackered lol we're all in the same boat. Really think hospitals should be monitoring us all and finding solutions for us now.

  • dawn84999
    dawn84999 Res35

    Edited

    Hi,week 4 plus 5 days and insomnia has set in for the 4th night.

    Not sure if it's the phantom cigarette smoke I smell more strongly at night or the dry burn in my chest when breathing that makes me feel like I'm actually breathing in smoke that's keeping me awake but its draining.

    Has anyone else experienced this ?

    • jim90098
      jim90098 dawn84999

      Edited

      Hi Dawn,

      No phantom smells here but just about everyone has or is suffering with lack of sleep.

      Sorry.

    • dawn84999
      dawn84999 jim90098

      Edited

      Morning Jim,

      I managed 5 restless hours, will try again for an afternoon nap but that's not been successful either the last few days.

      Did some checking and the phantom cigarette smell can happen after a upper respiratory virus which is a relief ,I've not gone entirely insane...yet .

    • steph88359
      steph88359 dawn84999

      Edited

      Hi Dawn, sorry to hear you're suffering like the rest of us on here. I can relate to the dry burn on chest and am guessing the insides of our bodies are all inflamed with what the virus has put it through. My back is extra sensitive as is both my sides at times. Yesterday i had a pain in my right calf. Sleep wise it's getting better as i'm same timeframe as Jim just over 6 weeks. But last night had to switch telly on at 3am so had a distrubed nights sleep

    • mkqq
      mkqq dawn84999

      Edited

      I've had sleep problems every since day #5 since I first got sick. Now I'm almost 3 months in.

      Last night I managed to scrap together around 8 hours, but it looked something like this.

      2200-2345

      0000-0145

      0200-0245

      0245-0500

      0540-0715

      0745-0815

      I think the maximum amount of time I slept in one go for the last 2.5 months was around 4 hours. That only happened once or twice I think.

    • steph88359
      steph88359 Lulu2020

      Edited

      Hi Lulu, thanks for sharing the article totally relate to the 4pm slump especially if I don't have my afternoon nap. Sorry to hear you're having a tough tome of it lately , hoping it gets better for all of us soon .

    • dawn84999
      dawn84999 steph88359

      Edited

      Hi,sounds awful ,sorry you're still suffering,thankfully not any pain or sensitivity like that but get the odd sharp pain here and there .I'm constantly monitoring everything my body is doing ,its tiring.

      Hope you have a better day today x

    • mkqq
      mkqq steph88359

      Edited

      Anyone have trouble breathing while lying down trying to sleep?

      Not sure if is psychological or not. When I lie down to sleep it feels like I have to take each breath manually, i.e. I cannot find a good breathing rythm.

      Normally it is something we don't even think about.

    • dawn84999
      dawn84999 mkqq

      Edited

      Hi,

      Disturbed sleep like your having is never restful ,you must feel drained.

      I've never had a great sleep pattern as I have to get up when I'm at work by 4.30 am and rarely get more than 6 hours but I always manage to sleep when I get home late afternoon and catch up a bit.I cant even seem do that at the moment even though I know my body is weak with the muscle loss and I'm exhausted my head just wont let me .Going to try some lavender pillow spray tonight and some relaxing sounds...hope it doesn't set my musical tinnitus off...I'll be awake all night .

      Hope you have a good day today .

    • steph88359
      steph88359 mkqq

      Edited

      Yes had it a lot and use to suddenly sit up gasping for breath but mine has subsided a bit now. I wonder if it's the lying down and how it effects our lungs and inflamed windpipe. Its so scary to begin with but I'm trying to live with it now.

    • susan48029
      susan48029 mkqq

      Edited

      Hi yes I still have it sometimes, I lie on belly it helps

    • Gazza10
      Gazza10 steph88359

      Edited

      Hi everyone I'm going to give you all positive news I went back down a and e as I said I would if I didn't get the news I wanted to hear from my gp had another check over went through start to finish with the doctor about little sugar and basically what is going on with my body if nothing is showing up on these tests and he told me that I have had covid and that it would be my swabs were negative because of the time period what most of us suspected anyway and go back to work but it will take time like I remember Michael saying so I have worked on the rest of my symptoms still got only a little sore throat popping in my nose dehydration which is getting better breathing is nearly there but he did say that will take time sort itself spoke to my work who are in the know now done half a shift today told them it may work against me and may get fatigue if it does I can come in again when better so taking one day at a time I feel more and more information is getting out there you will get better just remember when you do though walk before you can run and take care of your health taking more vitamins now asked at the hospital why it was taking me so long to get back to normal because I have suffered pvs post viras syndrome so looks like we all knew our bodies were not right but we still had little sugar doing things to us the anxiety is normal as well told him never had anything like that before and don't want to again I will keep checking in but just thought you need something positive remember also the covid pod is nearly empty so most people are on the mend Gary

    • stuart68c
      stuart68c Gazza10

      Edited

      Keep going with that improvement Gary, it does us all a lot of good to hear about it. How many weeks are you at now?

    • stuart68c
      stuart68c mkqq

      Edited

      Lying on my back doesn't feel good for me, breathing becomes quite laboured. I have to lie on my sides.

    • Gazza10
      Gazza10 stuart68c

      Edited

      Me and little sugar been at each other for 8 weeks and a few days now bless him kept giving me one thing after another to deal with made me mad with the throat he did got there in the end though as you all will still having pops at me but I feel a lot better still my bedside cabinet looks like a chemist but some of the things I was using have stopped now just still sos for the dehydration and vitamins d and c no more paracetamol felt after a good spell they were no longer needed bio kult sorted my stomach in the end dioralyte wasn't that bad but not as good breathing as the doc said will take a bit longer but it is reasonably managed might kick my back side tonight for going to work will have to wait and see keep at it guys and girls Gloria gaynor you will survive and kill little sugar gary

    • Gazza10
      Gazza10 stuart68c

      Edited

      Had that for a few days as well that's improving

    • susan48029
      susan48029 Gazza10

      Edited

      Well done going to work gazza, I'm walking more now and going for drives which I didn't do 2 weeks ago, still puffy but stop then carry on walking, let's hope we're all clear soon ❤️

    • Gazza10
      Gazza10 susan48029

      Edited

      Well done to you Susan I never thought it would a couple of weeks ago now I feel like right I must not push it because the little sugar might bite back but feel a day at a time and see how it goes x

    • MRMR
      MRMR Gazza10

      Edited

      It's great you feel a lot better Gazza. That's really lifted my spirits 😁😁

    • Gazza10
      Gazza10 MRMR

      Edited

      Thank you Mary it is a long slog but slowly we are getting there ❤️

    • Res35
      Res35 Gazza10

      Edited

      So glad to hear you're improving Gary!

    • joanne82424
      joanne82424 Gazza10

      Edited

      That's great news Gary:)

      Good to have positive news, it gives us all hope

      All the best with your return to work

    • stuart68c
      stuart68c Gazza10

      Edited

      Well done Gary. Keep it up. Gloria Gaynor killed Little Sugar would be quite a headline!

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